Airbus has announced that it will soon be offering its flagship aircraft, the A350, with electronically dimmable windows.
Electronically dimmable windows were first seen on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner a decade ago. Replacing the manual sliding window blind on each cabin window with an electronically charged gel sandwiched within the glass. The gel darkens as the electrical current is increased, meaning that passengers and crews can darken the window at varying levels without hindering the outside view.
At this time, it is understood that Airbus will be offering this alongside the traditional sliding window blinds to A350 customers. The new windows are said to dim and lighten far quicker than the older technology on the 787, and will be dimmable to 99.999%. Airbus plans to reveal more details about the option at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg in late March.
The windows on the Boeing 787 have divided opinion with the flying public. Whilst some love the new technology, critics complain about cabin crews ‘locking’ the windows typically to their darkest setting throughout the duration of most flights.
Matt is a Berlin-based writer and reporter for International Flight Network. Originally from London, he has been involved in aviation from a very young age and has a particular focus on aircraft safety, accidents and technical details.
